As your PBS station, it is KLRU’s mission to bring people together around important issues. KLRU does this through various educational and outreach initiatives. This year, KLRU will present 2nd Half of Life project. Created for one of the best-educated, healthiest, and most privileged generations in American history — the Boomers — the series aims to help people reinvent life after the age of 50. In the coming months, 2nd Half of Life presents episodes of Growing Bolder on Sundays at 10:30 am.

Upcoming episodes:

March 27
Pursuing Your Passions – Men and women from all over America prove that when you do what you love, you find health and happiness. Stories include: musician Roger McGuinn, beauty expert Oleda Baker, artist Harold Garde, environmentalist Dr. Peter Pritchard, skydiver Bill Booth. Overcoming Obstacles – When you are dealt setbacks in life — physical, emotional, financial — how do you recover? Stories include: singer Jacqueline Jones, survivor Larry Pontius, triathlete Tony Handler, businessman Tom Ross. Staying Active – Get moving! Whether you join a team or go solo, keeping up an active lifestyle is a key to Growing Bolder.

April 3
Discovery of a Lifetime – Joanie Schirm always knew there was more to her family history than what she had learned from her parents. When they passed away, she made a remarkable discovery in an old desk. It was a discovery that sent her on the adventure of a lifetime revealing a world of survival, loss and suffering during World War II. A 5-Minute Masterpiece – Brian Olsen is as much a work of art as his pop culture portraits. He’s a blur of brushes, hands, color and energy. There’s only been one other like him. But his mentor’s untimely death sent Brian on a profound journey to inspire others to find outlets for creativity and self-expression. Welcome, Wendy Chioji – A television anchor, breast cancer survivor and competitive athlete, Wendy Chioji has traveled the world and collected stories from people of all walks of life. As she joins the Growing Bolder team, we take a look at what makes Wendy such a Growing Bolder story herself!

April 10
Paul and McCartney and Me – A lot of people love the Beatles, but how many have ever performed as one? Or ever recorded at Abbey Road Studios? Or toured with the cast of Beatlemania. Perhaps the only person in the world who has done it all, is John Babcock! It’s a love affair that began at age five when he was one of the millions who first saw the Fab Four on the Ed Sullivan Show. Six Bullets to the Chest – James O’Connor was not standing at the proverbial crossroads. He was lying there. On a gurney. With six bullets in his chest. On what could have been his deathbed, James was overcome with a single thought, “We’re born to be alive, so we should live.” And so he did.

April 17
Creating a Life of Exquisite Harmony – Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson’s artwork is bright, cheerful, and whimsical, much like the artist herself. It consists of pieces of paper ripped apart and then reassembled into something more beautiful and more profound. Songs of a Lifetime – His journey has been a fascinating trip through an amazing era of music. Bob Rafkin was one of the musicians drawn to the Greenwich Village scene in the ’60s. He’s spent his career helping record the music of others, but after illness forced him to face his own mortality he’s found a passion for creating music of his own. Fantasy, Fiction and Fun! – Science fiction is not only alive and well, thanks to some out of this world gatherings and conventions, it’s getting bigger all the time. Put on your Vulcan ears and your Ewok costume and come with us to FX International, a sci-fi show that has it all!

April 24
The Mushroom Man – Many people are interested in photography. Some specialize in portraits, others landscapes. Taylor Lockwood specializes in — are you ready for this? — mushrooms! His hope is once you see his work you’ll not only understand why, but that you’ll see fungi in a whole new light. Lucky’s “Jaws” Swim – Da-Dum. Da-da-Da-Dum. In the summer of 1975, the movie “JAWS” terrorized nearly everyone who saw it. Dr. Lucky Meisenheimer is finally ready to conquer his fear. And he wants company. Da-Dum. Da-da-Da-Dum. Silver Stars – Are you ready to move your body? Meet the Orlando Magic Silver Stars, a group of 50+ dancers who shake their things in front of huge NBA crowds.

May 1
Family, Friends and Pancakes – We spend our days talking to or in search of ordinary people living extraordinary lives. And what we’ve learned is that anyone can do it. All it takes is passion. And the best thing about passion is that it’s contagious. Dr. Jack Beattie has it. And his family and friends have caught it. Mind Over Matter – Jennifer Field was 17 when a car accident left her comatose with a severe brain injury. Few expected her to survive. But she did. Fewer expected any kind of recovery. And it HAS been a battle, step by agonizing step, for nearly 20 years. Now, she travels the country, performing a one-woman show, re-living her story so that others who’ve suffered traumatic brain injuries never lose hope. The Veterans of Motocross – It’s the ultimate motorized highwire act, requiring lightning-fast reflexes, incredible strength and stamina, and nerves of steel.

May 8
Discover Your Inner Sex Symbol – The expression “less is more” has never been more true. Women are taking it off, to turn it back on! Boudoir photography is hot, in more ways that one! And it’s not just those young, skinny 20-somethings, it’s women in mid-life and beyond who are giving their all, well, just about, to prove that age is irrelevant! Celebrating 50 Years of Skydiving History – On August 16, 1960, Air Force Capt. Joe Kittinger rode a helium balloon to 102,800 feet — the very edge of space — and jumped. Fifty years later, to commemorate man’s longest leap, Kittinger became the first inductee into the National Skydiving Museum Hall of Fame. Tracing Your Family Tree – Ever wonder where you came from? Digging up your family tree’s roots can help you see a more clear future. We’ll take a look at how technology is making it easier than ever to find out who you really are!

May 15
How World Records are Broken – Motivated by the stories we do every week, Growing Bolder CEO Marc Middleton got back in the pool for the first time in 35 years. That was two years ago. Today, Marc is a member of Rowdy Gaines’ Blu Frog Masters Team and now, the Froggers have something to croak about. World War II’s Fading Memories – There aren’t many people like Bill Coleman. There used to be, but World War II vets are vanishing. It’s why their stories are so important. Not just for their first-hand accounts, but also to ensure the lessons they learned don’t just fade into history. Come Play With Us – From fast cars to talking water — yes, you read that right — we’re showing you the coolest new games and rides at the annual International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions expo. You won’t see this stuff anywhere else … yet!

May 22
Hey, Your Nose is Growing! – There are very few full-time marionette theaters in the country. One of them, Pinocchio’s Marionette Theater near Orlando, Florida, is dedicated to keeping the vanishing art alive. See why they believe puppetry is not only still relevant but even more necessary in these high-tech times. Andy’s New Bike – Andy was born with fetal alcohol syndrome 40 years ago. His adoptive and loving parents have always encouraged him to get involved in life and he has. He has a job, a lot of friends and gets all around town on his beloved bicycle. So, imagine his despair when it was stolen. And imagine his surprise when the very people he thought were a nuisance turned out to be some of the best friends he ever had. Restore Your Passion and Pass it On – The mission was gratifying yet overwhelming. But isn’t taking on projects that are way too big the key to great accomplishment?

May 29
Field of Dreams – John Wilson’s story is straight out of Hollywood. It’s a story of personal redemption and hope for us all; a story of struggle and triumph played out in jails, hospitals and finally — on a baseball field. Tubes, Transformers and Tragedy – If you have a vintage radio or know anyone who does you’ll be thankful for Dennis G. Williams. He is one of a very few people you can turn to for expert, full-time antique radio repair and restoration. He has four decades of experience at his craft and his business, Radio Relics has a reputation for quality, honesty and integrity that spreads clear across the country. The only thing more interesting than what he does for a living, is who he is as a person.